As educators, our goal is to help students develop essential life skills, such as effective communication and problem-solving. One crucial skill for young learners is the ability to ask for help when they need it. This not only fosters a supportive learning environment but also encourages students to be proactive and take responsibility for their learning. In this blog post, we will explore an easy, no-prep activity to teach Kindergarten students how to ask for help, followed by discussion questions, related skills, and next steps.

Introduction

Teaching young children to ask for help is an essential aspect of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), as it promotes self-awareness, self-management, and relationship skills. When students learn to ask for help, they become more confident in their abilities, develop a growth mindset, and build stronger connections with their peers and educators. In this blog post, we’ll focus on a simple activity that encourages Kindergarten students to ask for help and communicate their needs effectively.

No-Prep Activity

This activity, called “Helping Hands,” requires no preparation or materials from the educator. Here’s how it works:

1. Have students sit in a circle.
2. Explain to the students that they will practice asking for help by pretending they are stuck on a task or problem.
3. Begin by modeling the process. Act as if you are having trouble with a task, and ask a student for help by saying, “Can you help me with something, please?”
4. Encourage the student to respond positively, such as, “Sure, what do you need help with?”
5. Explain your pretend problem and thank the student for their help.
6. Next, have each student take turns pretending they need help and asking a classmate for assistance.
7. Encourage students to use clear and polite language when asking for help and responding to requests.

After the activity, praise students for their efforts and remind them that asking for help is a sign of strength and an essential part of learning.

Discussion Questions

After the activity, use these discussion questions to stimulate further conversations about asking for help and communication skills:

1. How did it feel to ask for help during the activity? Were you nervous or comfortable?
2. Why is it important to ask for help when we need it?
3. How can asking for help make us better learners and friends?
4. What are some situations where you might need to ask for help in school or at home?
5. How can we support our classmates when they ask for help?

Related Skills

Beyond asking for help, other relevant SEL skills for Kindergarten students include:

• Active listening: Paying attention to what others are saying and responding appropriately.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others, which helps create supportive relationships.
• Cooperation: Working together with peers and educators to achieve common goals.
• Self-regulation: Managing emotions and behaviors in a healthy and productive way.

Next Steps

Teaching students to ask for help is an essential component of Social-Emotional Learning, and it’s never too early to start. To support your students in developing this and other crucial SEL skills, we invite you to sign up for free samples of Everyday Speech’s SEL materials. Our diverse resources will help you create a nurturing and inclusive learning environment where all students can thrive.